technology

a) A flexible front rack (..also on suspended forks)

... are fixed on special threads in the fork. But there are a lot of forks without this fastening screw threads. And then... forget the front rack?

Not me! The most used solution are brackets or band clamp fittings. Ugly stuff! There must be another solution. So, I looked for one and found one...

The idea:

Somehow, I ordered two any old brake boosters for the v-brakes, which I never used. The bicycle with the disk brakes had also v-brake mounts. So, my idea cycled around the only and one dimension, which is always the same: The wheel size, 28". The clearance between axle and v-brake is always the same, if the wheel size is the same. This fact and the brake booster should give a useful solution.

Realization:

The rear wheels have a longer tension axle. Exact 30mm longer than the front axle. Using a rear axle on the front wheel would gave 15mm clearance on each side for adapters. This would be a good bottom mount for a front rack. So, I made two adapters on my lathe. Then, I filed a flat on each adapter. Then, the adaptor needed to be beveled, where the drivepipes are.

The adater looks like a hut. The smaler diameter must fit in flat on the fork dropout, the rest is a matter of taste.

Tip: If someone has no lathe, he can use two different (very thick) washers. They do not need to be in one part, the tension axle would do the rest.

Then, a little piece of al is used to make an offset for the rack. All screws are mounted with bolt lock.

Above: The result

Above: Built in, view from bottom view

Above: Other side...

Above: Complete structure.

Upper mount:

Now the brake booster had their grand entrance! On both bicycles, a brake booster was mounted. They will be the upper mounting points of the front rack

Above: Brake booster on bicycle 1 (disk brake)

Above: Brake booster on bicycle 2 (V-brakes)

Above: Front view of the brake booster

The "holes" in the brake booster provide a lot of possibilities to fix a rack there. The rest can be seen on the following photos.

..and yes, I know, that a slow approach is more difficult with this mount, because the panniers are a little bit more away from the center of rotation. But I had never problems, not in the first gear on steep climbs and not when turning the steering fast left or right.

I think, because the pannier comes closer to the wheel, it neutralized the effect from being a little bit more in front. But remember, the panniers are now unsprung weight!

Today, I use front racks, which are suspended, so that the fork can unhindered do it's job.

Above: An angle fixes the rack on the booster

Above: General view

The complete rack is removed is removed in 5 minutes, only with a 13mm wrench and an short axle!

Above: My bicycle with trailer, ready to leave in 2012

Above: Drawing (for larger view, please open in separate window)

I didn't translate the drawing, because I think, someone, who has the skills milling or filing an adapter, knows what there's to see!